Peter Vanezis OBE, is Professor Emeritus of Forensic Medical Sciences at the William Harvey Research Institute, Queen Mary University of London. He began his career in forensic medicine at the London Hospital Medical College in 1974 in the department headed by Professor James Cameron. He became Reader and Head of the Forensic Department at the Charing Cross and Westminster Medical School in 1990, following which he was appointed Regius Professor of Forensic Medicine and Science in 1993 at the University of Glasgow. He was awarded the OBE in 2000 for leading the British Forensic team in the investigation of mass graves in Kosovo. After establishing a forensic pathology unit at the Forensic Science Service in 2003, he was appointed to the new chair of Forensic Medical Sciences at Queen Mary University of London where he pursued academic activities until his retirement in 2018. He continues his interest in forensic medical education and research through his Academy of Forensic Medical Sciences.

Professor Vanezis has a number of broad interests in the forensic medical sciences including human identification and human rights abuses. His previously published texts include Pathology of Neck injury, Essential Forensic Medicine and Suspicious Death-Scene Investigation as well as contributions to a number of forensic textbooks.

1 Introduction, Scope and Historical Perspectives 2 Knife Crime ¿ Epidemiology, Impact on the Community and Legislation 3 Types of Knives and the Dynamics of Sharp Force Trauma 4 Scene Examination in Cases of Sharp Force Trauma 5 The Post-Mortem Examination in Sharp Force Trauma Deaths 6 Patterns of Wounding and Demographic Factors in Homicidal and Other Sharp Force Assaults 7 Morphology of Sharp Force Injuries and Type of Implements Responsible for Causing Them 8 Sharp Force Trauma ¿ Regional Location and Consequences of Injury 9 Defence Injuries 10 Intentional Self-inflicted Injuries 11 Accidental Injuries Including Injuries from Animals 12 Post-Mortem Injuries, the Effects of Putrefaction and Artefacts 13 Iatrogenic, Needlestick and Other Related Sharp Force Trauma 14 Presentation of Evidence and Issues Arising in Court in Sharp Force Trauma Cases